Boxing
Shakur Stevenson supports Zuffa’s one-lane vision, but it could lead to a more hard path
“I think people are so unaware that they don’t even understand that for me, just like with Zuffa, they have one lane, one lane only. How wouldn’t that facilitate pristine up the boxing?” Shakur told the Daily Mail. “It would be very helpful for the sport of boxing.”
Shakur also criticized the current landscape, which includes WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO champions.
“If we have four different belt organizations, the fans will complain that this champion is not fighting this champion, this champion is not fighting, and this is mandatory. It becomes a whole clown show,” Shakur said.
The WBO welterweight champion’s comments are noteworthy because his own path to the 140-pound title was governed by the current system.
After moving up from lightweight, Shakur challenged Teofimo Lopez for the WBO title without first fighting many of the division’s top contenders. A single-belt structure built around the rankings would likely require fighters to advance through a contender’s ladder before receiving a title shot.
If boxing were to adopt a true one-belt model, Shakur could find himself in a position to earn a championship shot against the likes of Ernesto Mercado, Andy Hiraoka, Gary Antuanne Russell, Alberto Puello, Dalton Smith and Oscar Duarte.
Each one presents a different challenge. Mercado has become one of the hardest hitters in the division while also displaying impressive hand speed. Hiraoka provides size and power. Russell is considered one of the most aggressive pressure fighters in the division. Smith, Puello and Duarte have established themselves as legitimate contenders.
The same problem would exist if Shakur returned to lightweight. Floyd Schofield, Gervonta Davis, Andy Cruz, Raymond Muratalla and William Zepeda would likely be in the title race.
Zepeda’s pressure caused hard moments in his fight against Shakur last year, raising questions about how the single-belt system will affect fighters who currently have multiple paths to a championship shot.
Still, Stevenson remains confident that the single-lane design will improve boxing.
“I think everyone will fight each other like this,” Shakur said.
The question is whether Stevenson would face a deeper and more unsafe path in the system he supports than the one that helped him win the 135- and 140-pound titles.
“It’s crazy when they talk shit to me God punish them.”
FightHype interpreted the post as Crawford reacting to McGregor’s defeat, and many fans reached the same conclusion given the timing.
The two have exchanged words in recent weeks after McGregor claimed Crawford turned down a $200 million two-fight boxing and MMA deal. Crawford rejected that version of events, saying no such offer was ever presented to him.
Crawford did not mention McGregor by name or elaborate on his message, but the post quickly spread across social media.
The reaction was divided. Some boxing fans viewed the message as Crawford reminding McGregor of their recent feud, while many MMA fans criticized the retired four-division champion for appearing to celebrate McGregor’s injury and defeat. Others accused Crawford of invoking divine punishment over a sporting result, calling the post unnecessary.
Neither Crawford nor McGregor has commented further since the exchange reignited discussion between boxing and MMA fans.
Dana White ripped the UFC production team after they mistakenly identified boxing star Shakur Stevenson during Saturday night’s UFC 329 broadcast, saying the company continues to struggle with celebrity recognition despite having produced events for more than two decades.
While discussing the overall production during his post-fight press conference, White praised the show’s presentation before abruptly shifting to one mistake that clearly irritated him.
“I tell you all the time, my production team, we just did the White House. We built a fing arena on the South Lawn of the White House, and it was the greatest fing thing in the world to be there live and to watch it on TV,” White said.
“I just paid Shakur Stevenson a shitload of money. And for some reason, we can’t figure this celebrity s*** out. They put him up as a fing OKC NBA player. Are you fing kidding me?”
White continued venting about the error, saying the UFC has become notorious for misidentifying celebrities shown on its broadcasts.
“We are the absolute worst to ever do the celebrity thing. When we put celebrities up, we are the worst. I just had this fing debate in the back with my guys while I was screaming at everybody back there. They said, ‘No, soccer’s worse. Soccer shows the people, and they don’t put up any graphics.’ Oh no. We put up fing graphics and put the wrong guy’s name on it. We win. We’re the worst ever to f***ing do it.”
Stevenson attended UFC 329 as one of the event’s notable guests following his growing relationship with Zuffa Boxing. White has repeatedly praised the undefeated former three-division world champion and has made him one of the most recognizable boxing figures associated with the promotion’s new venture.
The broadcast mistake quickly drew attention online, with boxing fans sharing clips of White’s profanity-filled reaction and criticizing the production error. The incident also highlighted Zuffa Boxing’s increasing crossover with UFC events as White continues expanding his presence in professional boxing.
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Last Updated on 2026/07/12 at 2:02 AM
Tim Bradley plans to buy the Aug. 22 welterweight title fight between Rolly Romero and Teofimo Lopez, but he doesn’t believe the matchup offers enough value to justify a pay-per-view purchase. The former two-division world champion said he expects many boxing fans to pirate the event instead.
Bradley admitted he’ll still order the card but questioned whether it belongs behind a paywall.
“Look, I ain’t going to lie, I’m going to buy it. But yeah, a lot of people gonna pirate this mug for real because I personally don’t think it’s pay-per-view worthy,” said Bradley on his YouTube channel.
He also questioned how Teofimo landed another title opportunity after coming up short in his previous outing.
“Teo coming off a loss getting a title shot. Yeah, it’s boxing. It’s boxing,” Bradley said.
He also pointed to Rolly’s inactivity, noting that the WBA welterweight champion will be returning after roughly 15 months out of the ring.
“Rolly Romero haven’t fought since what? May 2025. We in 2026, ain’t we? Damn, that’s a long time. Whoa, man. Fifteen months before he get in the ring,” Bradley said.
Bradley said the lengthy layoff leaves uncertainty over which version of Rolly will appear on fight night. He wondered whether fans will see the patient, counterpunching style Romero used against Ryan Garcia or a more aggressive approach that looks to overwhelm opponents with power.
Bradley is saying what many fans have been posting on X since the fight was announced. A lot of them don’t believe it’s worth paying for. Some see it as a money fight between a champion who has been chasing the biggest payday of his career and a former champion coming off a one-sided loss.
Bradley’s comments echoed many of those same concerns. Fans can buy the pay-per-view or find another way to watch, but all eyes will be on Las Vegas on Aug. 22 to see if the fight proves the critics wrong.
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